JACKSON, MI – A new Japanese restaurant that features a large variety of sushi, and entrees prepared over a hot open grill in front of customers, is now open in Jackson.

Ichiban Japanese restaurant, located at 915 N. Wisner St. in the plaza behind Roly Poly Sandwiches and Biggby Coffee, opened to the public Thursday, June 20.

Jackson resident Marc Anderson, who ordered a large plate of sushi Thursday afternoon, said he is a fan of AKA Sushi on N. West Avenue, but is excited to see something new open in town.

“I feel comfortable,” Anderson said about the ambiance of the restaurant. “It seems intimate. They seem like they know what they’re doing.”

The menu includes appetizers such as edamame (soybeans cooked in salt water), shrimp tempura and sunomono, a seafood salad. It also includes an extensive menu of sushi bar entrees, regular and special sushi rolls, hibachi dinners, and desserts such as tempura cheesecake.

Owner Sky Chen said he has gotten a positive response from customers about the food, and some of them know him from his restaurant in Ann Arbor.

“They enjoyed it very much,” he said.

Ichiban is open 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.